04/03/12

Our Cars (so far)

This all started with the 24 T, then the trailer, then the A and now the
Speedster (properly called a Raceabout in New Zealand where it originally came from).
The model A belongs to my wife who hasn't yet mastered the driving of a T.
This is the car that we use most of the three. We go on tours with
'The Roaring 20s Antique Automobile Club' of Southern California at least
once a month. The '24 has been idle while I work on the 'clean up' of the
Raceabout. The Raceabout photos can be seen by using the hyperlink on the
left and some are out of sequence here and there. Parts of
the original design of the speedster began about 1930.

This car was purchased in Texas a
while back at the Kickapoo Airport in Wichita TX. We are the forth owners
with the previous three located in the same area of Texas. We also have the
original Bill of Sale for the vehicle which is quite rare I'm told.
The car is all stock and original being used for transportation until about
seven years ago when it was relegated to parade use and stored in a hanger.
The second owner added a 'home made' paint job who's quality is close to
that of the factory. The third owner added new upholstery and a top.
I've knocked off some of the Texas mud and added new tires when a 3in chunk
of sidewall fell off. Other than
replacing things that 'fall off' during normal operation, I intend to keep
it as is. I believe that there are too many overly restored T's out there
and some
someone needs to 'keep the faith'.

This was build by a gentleman in
Oregon from a old carcass that he found. The wood and wheels
were replaced but the Model T front axel and buggy springs were retained.
Old trailers from the 20's have long since fallen apart because they were
made to work and left where they busted. Most were made by the Farmer
from what they could scrounge.

This is a Tudor Sedan
manufactured in May 1929. We have absolutely no history on the car
other than it was a 'frame-on' restoration a few years back in central
California. My wife liked it and as she hasn't mastered the T, we got
it. Other than adding the missing emergency parts and original type
shocks it's as we got it. The motor was rebuilt and had about 50 miles
on it when we got it. Since we've added a few hundred or so with the
longest being from Glendora to Riverside and back on side roads.

I have added some 'in-process'
pictures of the '1926 Ford Speedster rebuild'. This started as a simple
'paint touch up' but soon escalated into a major overhaul. So far it looks
like somewhere in May, June, July, it should be on the road. The latest is
to paint the cowl, seats, get it upholstered, run the electrical, fuel and
exhaust. As speedsters were never a factory product from Ford, anything
goes. I've tried to keep any of my modifications 'period' but there are
some modern touches for safety's sake. Speedsters or Raceabouts were the
'Street Rods of the Past'. Most built by 'shade tree mechanics' such as
this one built in New Zealand around the early 30's where it spent most of
the time on dirt roads and the sands of Briton Beach. The motor, according
to the plaque from the museum, powered a car at 100.6 MPH in 1931. Model T
motor, virtually no brakes, wooden wheels and quick steering.......... It
took guts. It then ran in VC or NZ rallies until the mid 70's when it
was relegated to the Yaldhurst Museum in NZ. It and many other items were
sold and moved to Ohio. A couple of years later I bought it and
took it to CA. The idea of a right hand drive car with a paper trail
intrigued me. The condition of the car was a bit 'hodge-podge' being made by
a 'shade tree mechanic'. The chassis and motor is a Canadian '26 that
was either a roadster, touring and the cowl might have been an open cab
truck because there are no door lines. The gas tank must be the biggest on
any speedster anywhere.......36.7 gal !! That's 302lbs, and $87.00 at
current CA prices which at an estimated 20 mpg gives me a range of 367 or
734 miles between fill ups. I keep adding progress photos on the
.

We found this car through Milt
Wright, a Roaring 20 member, and couldn't pass it up. There are more
details about the car on the Pontiac Web Page. Due
to the lack of room, we have decided to sell this car. I don't have
the room or money to restore it the way it should be done.